The auto industry, especially America, was revived in the 1960s with his book. He was the person who "rang the alarm bells" for manufacturers who did not attach much importance to safety in automobiles or put them in the background. He was a consumer rights activist.
Once upon a time, there was a time... Once upon a time, there were automotive manufacturers who thought that "safety cannot be a feature that makes cars sell". From the invention of the automobile until the mid-1960s, they focused on the "important" things like designs, functionality, powerful engines, and cheap models. Especially the American ones... And one day, an ambitious young man who "doesn't even have a driver's license" comes along... He thought that cars were too unsafe and that drivers weren't given enough information about driving safety. He furthered his research, which he started when he was still in his second year of Law School, and focused on the Chevrolet Corvair, which was developed and launched in 1960 as "the US competitor of the Volkswagen Beetle".
Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American political activist, author, lecturer, and attorney noted for his involvement in consumer protection, environmentalism, and government reform causes. The son of Lebanese immigrants to the United States, Nader attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He first came to prominence in 1965 with the publication of the bestselling book Unsafe at Any Speed, a highly influential critique of the safety record of American automobile manufacturers.
Unlicensed but conscious
The Chevrolet Corvair was indeed one of the first models of the so-called "second golden age" of the American automotive industry. After the Volkswagen Beetle made a big splash in the USA, it was developed as a competitor. Although it was the country's "first compact car", it was not as small as the Beetle. It was rear-engined, but this engine was 6-cylinder, not a 4-cylinder. But it was planned as a cheap option. It came out with the name "Corvair" as a reference to "Corvette".
Scanned the cases
The model, which was produced between 1960 and 1969, had versions of a 4-door sedan, two-door coupe, cabriolet, station wagon and even pickup trucks. However, there was a person who thought that this car, which General Motors had launched with great hopes, was "not safe". Young Lebanese lawyer Ralph Nader has been an idealist since his school years, focusing on immigrant and worker rights, and a fighter. After leaving the lawyer, he also went to the Soviet Union and Cuba. He was also a political figure, and in 1964 he had also started advising the Department of Labor.
Another topic he worked on while at school, about which he wrote articles for newspapers, was "car safety". "Without even a driver's license and a car," Nader argued, "American cars are generally dangerous to drive." In his research for this purpose, Nader reached more than 100 lawsuits filed against Chevrolet Corvair. After all, all the files proved his claim.
The Corvair's rear suspension caused the vehicle to slide left and right on corners and hard maneuvers. Because he claimed, despite the insistence of a GM engineer, the "stabilizer bar" was not used in the rear suspension simply because of cost pressure. Also, great attention had to be paid to tire pressures. Because if the pressure of one of the tires was low or punctured, it would be difficult to keep the car on the road. Therefore, it was necessary to check before each use, but "consumers who bought the car were not informed about this." In addition, the one-piece steering shaft caused serious injury or even death to people in the event of an accident.
Presidential nomination...
Nader turned them into a book and began looking for publishers. Nobody wanted to publish such a book, thinking that it would not sell and could be banned. He eventually signed with a publishing house and in 1965 the book was released. The book "Insecure at Any Speed", which made it to the bestseller list, took the world by storm. US automotive giants stood up. Of course, consumers too...
General Motors was shocked. Reacting big, GM even had a detective after him. However, the US administration did not think so. Within 9 months, Nader had become a national hero and the US administration had to make some radical decisions regarding the auto industry. The "National Highway Traffic Safety Administration" (NHTSA) has become the institution that sets the safety standards for the automobiles produced. Since then, the safety equipment of cars manufactured in the USA has been tightened.
General Motors has redesigned Corvair's controversial suspension system. The vehicle was produced until 1969. More powerful versions were also released as sales decreased for a period. Its prices rose again, but it did not continue, it said goodbye to the bands. NHTSA published a report "laundering" the Corvair in 1972, but it was too late. Although the Corvair is still considered "dangerous" to this day, it's classically bought in good quantities.
What about Nader? After the Chevrolet Corvair, he was obsessed with many faulty products, as well as Ford Pinto, which turned into a fireball due to faulty gas tank design in rear-end collisions. Finally, he argued that Boeing 737 Maxs should not be flown after the "Ethiopian Airlines" plane crashed in 2019, in which he lost his nephew. He ran for the American presidency 4 times but failed. A legend that still lives... Even though it is not loved by automotive manufacturers...